STUDENTS pulled together to raise funds for a holistic charity that helped one of their teachers to beat cancer.

Year 10 pupils at Northallerton College took part in a host of sponsored sports events including tug-of-war, Frisbee, five-a-side football, tennis and inter-form activities to collect £200 for the Trinity Holistic Centre.

The centre, based at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, supports cancer patients with a variety of therapies, services and wellbeing projects.

PE teacher Alastair Macrae praised the work of the charity that cared for him after he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2007.

“The staff at the centre made an unbelievable difference to me during my time in hospital,” said Mr Macrae.

Having completed a gruelling triathlon in September 2006, Alastair, then 38, noticed a drop in his fitness levels and was diagnosed the following January.

After initial chemotherapy he was offered the services of the centre by head of complementary therapies Kathryn Almond.

In January 2008, he was put in remission after receiving a stem cell transplant at Newcastle, and underwent his last radiotherapy treatment in the March just a week before celebrating his 40th birthday.

“I couldn’t fault the medical care I received throughout my treatment,” said Mr Macrae. “But without the extra support I received from Kathryn and the team I think I would have found it a lot harder.”